Are you asking yourself:

• “What if I’m wrong?"

• “What if this isn’t abuse?"

Have you noticed this type of behavior by the child?

• Difficulty sleeping

• Problems at school or with peers

• Sudden changes in behavior

• Returning to bedwetting, thumb sucking, etc.

• Fear of a certain person

• Skipping school, running away, or acting out

• Attempting suicide

• Writing or artwork that’s sexual

• Excessive sexual curiosity, masturbation, or promiscuity

• Seductive behavior toward adults or peers

Have you noticed these physical signs on the child?

• Unexplained headaches, stomach aches, vomiting, fainting or blackouts

• Bedwetting or soiling

• Loss or gain of appetite and weight

• Injury, itching, pain, or soreness in the genital or anal area

• Torn, stained, or bloody underclothes

• Signs of a sexually transmitted disease

• Pregnancy

Have you seen this behavior in adults near the child?

• Refusal to let the child set limits

• Insisting on hugs, touching, kissing, tickling, etc. even when a child resists

• Overly interested in a child’s physical or sexual development

• Insisting on uninterrupted time alone with a child

• Spending most of the spare time with children rather than peers

• Buying children expensive items or giving money for no reason

• Frequently walking in on a child in the bathroom

• Allowing children to get away with inappropriate behavior

To report abuse, call the NYS Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-342-3720. An operator will help you and if appropriate, register the call in the State Central Register. This prompts an official investigation by Monroe County Child Protective Services.